From the Editors
In trying to reduce overall program cost and schedule, testing is often the first thing to get cut. And it's not hard to understand why. High-fidelity testing can take a long time—years, in some cases—and the end product is not some new gizmo or technological advance. When tests reveal no problems, program managers can be left wondering whether the testing was worth the time and effort—or worse, whether the tests were properly conceived and carried out. At best, testing can only confirm a program manager's worst fear: that something isn't working, and something needs fixing.
On the other hand, history has shown that a decrease in testing rigor equates with an increase in program risk. And a few important programs have felt the consequence of that risk.
Aerospace has traditionally been a vocal advocate of proper testing and has worked to make the process more efficient and reliable. Part of that work extends to phenomenology—what should a test be looking for?—and part of it extends to concepts and planning—how can we be sure a test will find the flaws it's supposed to?
Aerospace review of test plans and procedures can be crucial in ensuring that the testing process will find existing problems without introducing new ones. Investigations of life cycle performance help validate and improve testing models, instilling greater confidence in accelerated tests. Assessment of testing methods (especially across contractor boundaries) helps verify suitability and identify best practices. Given the company's traditional emphasis on testing, its not surprising to find some unique and highly advanced facilities at Aerospace, including the ultrafast thermal cycler and advanced propulsion diagnostics chamber featured in this issue.
Specifications and standards, which fell out of favor in the era of acquisition reform, are now back in style, much to the benefit of government space programs. The industry has come to realize that specs and standards do not arise arbitrarily, but represent the collective wisdom of numerous experts in diverse fields and eras. Aerospace has championed this return to standards and has been instrumental in revising outdated standards and developing new ones to reflect the latest manufacturing technologies and testing methodologies.
In some circles, the Aerospace name is synonymous with independent testing, validation, and verification. This issue illustrates the importance of testing and showcases some of Aerospace's important work in the field.
